STUDIO SWINE - HAIR HIGHWAY

Hair Highway is a contemporary take on the ancient Silk Road. As the world’s population continues to increase, human hair has been re-imagined as an abundant and renewable material, with China being the biggest exporter of human hair.

By combining hair with a natural resin, Studio Swine has created a composite material that provides a sustainable alternative to the planet’s diminishing natural resources with an aesthetic that evokes the palettes of tortoiseshell and a grain resembling that of polished horn or exotic hardwoods. The result is a unique collection of exquisite objects inspired by the 1930’s Shanghai-deco style.

The film documents the hair trade and industry in the Shandong province of China. Following the journey of the material from the people who sell their hair through to the hair merchants, markets and factories. To finally end up in a collection of highly decorative objects created by Studio Swine.

Priced at 1 million Euros, the astonishing bath was carved out of a single block of Rose Quartz Crystal found in the Amazonian rainforest, weighting approx. 10,000 kg.

The Baldi’s creative director, Luca Bojola, decided to keep the outer part rough not to hide the natural beauty of the crystal. Comparable to Renaissance creations, Its a work of art which testifies the beauty of nature meeting design.

Husband and wife lighting designers Audrée L. Larose & Félix Guyon, based in Montreal, have created jewel inspired lights that float as much as they illuminate. And much like good jewellery, their chandeliers compliment what is already there. The theatrics of jewellery can now also be found adorning our ceilings. Beauty and functionality that takes in to account architectural perspectives, now that is good design. -tM

Toronto Designer Alessandro Munge talks about how we use space and how he designs according to our movement, our culture, and our emotional experiences. His psychology of design and process fascinates me. -tM

Designed by the Bouroullec brothers and reminiscent of carousels, this art installation has been designed as an allegorical interpretation of movement and contemplation. Positioned in an Italian monastery it provides a public space where one can climb inside and relax and observe what it means to be silent and in motion. -tM

Blurring the lines between life and art, part sculptural installation and part public furniture piece designed by Ju Lee Architects makes hanging out in this park in Seoul Korea all the more inviting. Roots that gently rise and fall create different heights for people to lean on, sit, or lie down.

Taking inspiration from nature and encouraging our connection to it in my opinion, is always a good thing. -tM

An Italian Baroque Palace turned elegant hotel in which the architects and design team honoured the existing structure of the space. I am enchanted by its beauty and elegance. Sensual and simple marries tradition and discretion. -tM

So here it is, the first production of my designs. Étant. Inspired by movement, simplicity, and versatility. My pieces encapsulate the vital force of being. They were designed to be lived in, encouraging one to "just be." It's a state of mind really, but then again, isn't it always. -tM

In Residence: Patrizia Moroso

The grand dame of design opens the doors to her personal paradise

Imposing and unexpected amidst the lush greenery of a secluded plot in Udine in northeastern Italy, the home of Patrizia Moroso reveals a vibrant vision in the forest: at once a lived-in family home and a showcase of contemporary design and art gathered from around the globe.

As the creative director of Moroso, the prolific Italian furniture manufacturer started by her parents in the 1950s, Moroso is one of the grand dames of design, known for spotting and fostering new talent as well as for working with some of the most established names in design.

For years Moroso has lived here with her Senegalese husband, the artist and designer Abdou Salam Gaye, as over the years their three children have grown up and left the enchanted abode. Moroso, however, plans to stay put, glad to be living outside the borders of hectic design hub Milan. “If you are inside a place you don’t really see what is happening. You can see things differently from the outside,” she says. “Here I feel more free to see what is happening in design, and free to make our things according to a sort of independent vision.”

Just as I gravitate toward simplicity when it comes to my wardrobe, I too am drawn to the less is more concept when it comes to the design of my space, and in particular the design of the washroom. I want the space to feel like and be just as naked as I am, free of clutter making room for the letting go of whatever I am carrying in mind, on body, or that is spiritually weighing me down.

It’s a place where I connect to myself, quietly, or sometimes in song, opening myself up to letting the water soften me, making me flexible once again. -tM

This is a the way to use accents of colour to anchor a room. I love the way this space is peppered with red, from floor to feature walls. There is such purpose in this design. Money has nothing to do with taste, style or design. Cuba and its people have a beautiful way of expressing just that. -tM

I have always been a fan of hanging art in the bathroom.

It’s a space that is often neglected, artistically speaking, however the right art can really shift the mood of the room. Have fun with it, be cheeky, sexy, sensual, playful, whatever your heart desires, since it is a small space, the larger the photo/art the better. Statement pieces give the illusion of something bigger, even in smaller spaces they can act as windows in restrooms that have none. Expansive shots of nature will open up the room.

Regardless of how you choose to incorporate art into your space, remember that art elevates the soul and it is too important not to share, even in the lavatory. -tM